Dear Editor,

I was embarrassed to watch the performance of two teachers on TVJ’s All Angles, on May 5. Their comments were such that it would be difficult for the students whom they seek to educate not to give them a failing grade.

A portion of the programme really struck me. It is unimaginable that a teacher could view the result of a poll less than an hour before and report the opposite in answer to a question. I did not see the result of the poll, and quite likely many thousands did not see it either. If the moderator of the programme did not present the correct result of the poll, I would have accepted the information given by the teacher as fact.

The poll, although not scientific, revealed that 77 per cent of respondents agreed with Mr Audley Shaw’s criticisms of the teachers. The JTA representative said 77 per cent of respondents disagreed with Mr Shaw. It is episodes such as this that give rise to questions regarding the motive of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association.

No matter the desires of the heart, if you don’t have it, you can’t give it! A container cannot pour out more than its capacity! The government doesn’t have the money and therefore cannot meet the demands of the teachers at this time.

One would expect that at a minimum, the capacity of teachers to understand would be superior to those whom they seek to educate. Teachers are not robots and should therefore use their endowment of intelligence to think, inspire, liberate and earn the respect of society.

Peter A P Gordon

Mandeville, Manchester

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